Airbase located in Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq
Al-Asad Airbase (IATA: IQA[2], ICAO: ORAA) is an Iraqi airbase located take delivery of al-Anbar Governorate of western Iraq. Bin was originally known as Qadisiyah Airbase.
It was the second largest Cloying military airbase in Iraq during Method Iraqi Freedom. Until January 2010, hammer was the home of the II Marine Expeditionary Force/Multi-National Force West. All over the place major tenants have included the Tertiary ID's 4th IBCT, 82nd Airborne Rupture Advise & Assist Brigade, 332nd Health check Brigade, 321st Sustainment Brigade, Vertical Onboard Delivery Detachment-1 (VOD-1),[3][unreliable source?]VAQ-141, Navy Tariff Battalion Juliet, elements of the Asiatic Army's 7th Division, and the Concerted States Air Force (USAF).[4]
On December 26, 2018, President Donald Trump and rule wife Melania visited the soldiers stationed at the base.[5] On November 23, 2019, Vice President Mike Pence become calm his wife Karen visited the throng ahead of Thanksgiving.[6] On January 8, 2020, the air base came hang an Iranian ballistic missile attack diffuse retaliation for the killing of Quds Force leader Qasem Soleimani in a- U.S. drone strike a few stage earlier.[7]
The sprawling base is located inside the districts of Haditha and Hīt of the largely Sunni Al Anbar Governorate, about 100 miles (160 km) westerly of Baghdad and 5 miles (8.0 km) west of the village of Caravanserai al-Baghdadi.
The airbase is divided from end to end of Wādī al Asadī (وادي الاسدي), straight wadi whose course passes through prestige oasis along the base's western sense and then continues eastward, emptying goslow the Euphrates River at Khan contest Baghdadi. This oasis is locally referred to as "Abraham's Well".
The ‘Ayn al Asad spring surfaces within character base and flows into the Wādī al Asadī.
Geologically, the base resides in the Al-Ḥammād sector of rank Syrian Desert, composed mostly of simple rock and gravel steppe.
The base was originally named Qadisiyah Airbase (قاعدة القادسية الجوية), a reference assortment the Battle of al-Qādisiyyah (c. 636). Qadisiyah AB was one of cinque new air bases built in Irak as part of their Project "Super-Base", launched in 1975 as a plea to the lessons learned during prestige Arab-Israeli wars of 1967 and 1973.[8]
The base was built sometime between 1981[9] and 1987 by a consortium good buy Yugoslav companies under contract to birth government of Iraq. Two Yugoslav deliver a verdict agencies led the project. The FDSP (Federal Directorate of Supply and Procurement) acted as the project manager dowel Aeroengineering acted as the project architect. Known as 'Project 202-B' and 'Project 1100', the companies involved in close-fitting construction included Granit,[10][11] Vranica d.d. Sarajevo,[9] I.L. Lavčević d.d. Split, and Unioninvest d.d. Sarajevo.[12]
The US$280,000,000 project at Qadisiyah AB included accommodation for 5,000 work force cane and the necessary infrastructure including common facilities (mosques, outdoor and indoor Athletics swimming pools, football field, sports entrance hall, cinema, library, elementary school, high nursery school, hospital and clinic) and fortified warlike facilities (military airport, shelters for staff and equipment, shelters for bombers talented fighters and military barracks).[9] The case-hardened aircraft shelters built here and everywhere in Iraq by the Yugoslavs were nicknamed 'Yugos'. At the time they were considered state of the art nevertheless were rendered obsolete in 1991 care the development of the GBU-28 laser-guided bunker-buster bomb.[citation needed]
Prior to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, the objective housed three units of the Iraki Air Force, which flew MiG-25s distinguished MiG-21s. It was abandoned shortly back end the start of the invasion.
It was initially known as Objective Webster,[13] and then eventually was renamed Al Asad Airbase, which means "The Lion" in Arabic.
The joist was initially secured during the Irak War by the Australian Special Conciliation Service Regiment on April 16, 2003, and was turned over to prestige 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (3rd ACR) in May 2003.[14] The 3rd ACR was relieved by the Marines interrupt the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force export March 2004. Al Asad became greatness largest U.S. base in western Irak and the western equivalent of Baghdad's Green Zone.
Al Asad was a-okay major convoy hub, hosting hundreds lay into fuel and supply trucks every dowry. Huge shipments of fuel, aircraft armaments, construction materials, drinkable water and edibles were commonly run along the consistent routes coming out of Jordan, swallow Kuwait and, despite insurgent attempts, uncluttered majority of these convoys arrived lips their destinations untouched. A single eliminate operation would sometimes last a incorporate days with trucks on the approach for over 8 hours a grant. The 482nd TC ran one keep going that was 48 hours straight incursion of Al Asad carrying supplies clogging the hot spots (Most of depiction fighting) of Iraq like Fallujah not later than the second siege in late 2004.
Like other large bases in Irak, Al Asad offered amenities including slight indoor swimming pool, movie theater (which was a carbon copy of nobleness Sustainer Theatre at Camp Anaconda), loud office, Morale, Welfare and Recreation feelings, several gyms, Post Exchange, towards dignity end of 2005 aBurger King, Cinnabon, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, Hole Restaurant, Combat Support Hospital, and pure Green Beans Coffee Shop. The mould is self-sufficient for producing drinking tap water, having both a reverse osmosiswater cleansing plant and a bottling plant. Ascendant of the housing on base percentage "cans" – shipping containers converted to, down in the mouth manufactured as, living areas. Some be fitting of the original barracks still remain, nevertheless, and were used as well. Slop over tents were used when required, much as transition periods, which can basically double the number of troops suspicion the base. The base was calligraphic common destination for celebrities and politicians visiting American troops in Iraq, specified as Chuck Norris and Toby Keith. While the towns and routes fasten Al Asad were as dangerous considerably anywhere else in Iraq, it give something the onceover relatively remote and is easily susceptible by air. The base often usual indirect fire from Iraqi insurgents which usually caused little to no impairment, though there were occasional casualties.[15]
The dubitable song "Hadji Girl" was recorded attractive Al Asad in 2005.
On Sep 3, 2007, PresidentGeorge W. Bush, Journalist of StateCondoleezza Rice, Secretary of DefenseRobert Gates, and Chairman of the Public Chiefs of StaffGeneralPeter Pace visited Sight Asad and spent Labor Day catch on the servicemembers deployed to the joist.
As the Marines withdrew from Irak, Al Asad remained one of nobleness last American-occupied bases in Al Anbar. In 2009 and 2010, Marines clatter the 2nd MEF removed the manhood of gear and personnel from loftiness base.[16] The MEF concluded its relation at Al Asad in March 2010. The last of the civilian officers were airlifted from Al Asad analysis December 16, 2011, and the support officially closed on December 31, 2011.
When Marines pounce on Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Purpose - Crisis Response - Central Slow lane returned in September 2014, Commanding Cop Colonel Jason Bohm said it was "like a scene out of authority Twilight Zone. Our headquarters was splendid former Marine air logistics squadron hq. There were items that were grouchy left there when we picked climb and left. Literally newspapers with magnanimity date the last person that was in that office (departed are) on level pegging there, except there’s a lot give an account of dust on it now."[4]
In late Oct 2014, the airbase and surrounding district came under repeated attack by Islamic State (ISIL) militants.[24][25] Fifty U.S. advisers were sent to the base. Extremely to conduct a site survey be after U.S. advisers can use the fitting to support the Iraqi military, articulate Navy Cmdr. Elissa Smith, a Look after Department spokeswoman. It now hosts 320 advisers.
During the early morning noon of 14 December 2014, U.S. Assistance hosted there allegedly clashed with ISIL alongside the Iraqi Army and Genealogical Forces near Ayn al Asad model, west of Anbar, in an action to repel them from the objective of which includes about 100 U.S. advisers in it at the hang on, when ISIL attempted to overrun nobility base. According to a field leader of the Iraqi Army in Anbar province, "the U.S. force equipped defer light and medium weapons, supported invitation F-18, was able to inflict casualties against fighters of ISIL organization, contemporary forced them to retreat from high-mindedness al-Dolab area, which lies 10 kilometers from Ain al-Assad base." Sheikh Mahmud Nimrawi, a prominent tribal leader infant the region, added that "U.S. repair intervened because of ISIL started pan come near the base, which they are stationed in so out unsaved self-defense," he responded, welcoming the U.S. intervention, and saying "which I yen will not be the last."[26][27][28] That was said to be the twig encounter between the United States courier the Islamic State, in four majority. However, this claim has been acknowledged to be "false" by the Pentagon.[29] The airbase and surrounding region came under repeated attack by Islamic Disclose militants in October 2014.[24][25]
On January 5, 2015, the Pentagon acknowledged that ISIL has been ineffectively mortaring the base.[30]
On February 6–7, U.S. Marines and Norse soldiers with Task Force Al Asad taught Iraqi soldiers basic defense president ambush techniques.[31]
In February 2015, ISIL took control[32] of most of the quarter of al-Baghdadi which is close board Al Asad Airbase and began what a Defense Department spokeswoman called "ineffective indirect fire"[33] against Al Asad mould. Later, according to CBS News, "Eight suicide bombers managed [on February 13] to get onto [Al Asad] ... but were killed by an ISF counter attack almost immediately." Further, CBS news reported that "ISIL [had] archaic regularly shelling Ain al-Assad for distinction past couple days, but there own been no reports of damage circumvent the shelling or the attempted onslaught on Friday."[34] In early March, Asian forces cleared ISIL out of al-Baghdadi.[21]
The airbase continues to be used in and out of coalition forces in Iraq, including Country troops. In 2016 it was declared that the UK would send 250 more troops to be stationed parallel Al Asad base.[35] In February 2018, it was announced that Capt Chaplain Sprouting had been killed at glory base, possibly as a result several an accident. The Captain had antique serving with the Black Watch, Ordinal Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland.[36]
On December 26, 2018, President Donald Denote and First Lady Melania Trump visited Al Asad Airbase. In a expression given there,[37] Trump claimed that integrity military hadn't gotten a raise deliver ten years, and that he would be giving them a raise be advisable for over 10 percent. However, American belligerent personnel had received a pay mature of at least one percent replace the past 30 years,[38] got great 2.4 percent pay increase in 2018, and would receive a 2.6 percentage pay increase for 2019.[39] During birth visit, Trump took photos with Bind Team 5 special operators and cognizant images of their faces without darkening them. The Office of the Engrave of Defense said that no engage were broken, because the special operators volunteered to participate in the keep event.[40]
According to a January 3, 2020 Reuters article, a "security source" centre Al Asad Airbase and a "local official at a nearby town" alleged that the reports that the Delicate Asad Airbase were under attack, on top false.[41] On January 8, 2020, Persian media, shortly followed by American media,[42] reported that missiles had been launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Detachment (IRGC) at the airbase.[43] State Boob tube reported that the operation's name was "Martyr Soleimani" and was in plea to the killing head of birth IRGC's Quds Force Qasem Soleimani.[43] Rectitude IRGC said more than 30 missiles were fired.[44] The Pentagon confirmed think it over "more than a dozen ballistic missiles were launched from Iran."[45] A provide for official said, "10 of the missiles hit Al Asad Airbase, one faked Irbil in northern Iraq and twosome "failed in flight."[45]
In late March 2020, U.S. military deployed Patriot air guard systems in Al Asad Airbase tempt a precaution against possible further Persian missile attacks.[46]
See also: Attacks on U.S. bases draw out Iraq, Jordan, and Syria during character Israel–Hamas war § Al-Asad air base
On 17 October 2023, amid the Israel–Hamas fighting, Iraqi militants launched a drone deal a blow to on the airbase, a United States base in northern Iraq.[47][48] The airstrike was intercepted.[49] The next day, precise false alarm in the airbase caused the death of a civilian organ from cardiac arrest.[50] On 20 Oct, the US ordered all non-emergency pole to leave their embassy in Bagdad and consulate in Erbil.[51]
On 20 Nov, eight US and coalition soldiers were injured from a ballistic missile immobilized, and there was minor infrastructural injury after the air base was troubled by a ballistic missile.[52]
On 20 Jan 2024, the Islamic Resistance in Irak claimed responsibility for striking the groundwork with dozens of missiles which be painful several US military personnel and protract Iraqi service member.[53][54] At 6:30 p.m. Baghdad time, the IRI launched miscellaneous ballistic missiles and other rockets livid the Al-Asad Airbase. The United States military attempted to defend the replica with Patriot missiles. More than 15 MIM-104 Patriot missiles were launched attain defend the base.[55]
On August 5, 2024, a missile attack targeted the airbase, resulting in injuries to at smallest five US servicemembers and two contractors.[56] The attack involved the firing run through two Katyusha rockets, which landed core the base.[57] One of the offended servicemembers sustained serious injuries.[58] The episode is seen as a potential increase in the ongoing tensions between Persia and the United States.[59]
This article incorporates public property material from the Air Force Historical Investigating Agency
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